Don’t Let Up

Checking back in from the daily grind. No days off in the studio alongside my right hand Jose. Again, working through those vigorous sessions, as nights turn into early mornings.Â Surrender yourself to your work, and uncover the true fulfillment that is found in the process. When you let go off time, and embrace every moment with everything that you got, you tap into aÂ purity in the form of true passion.

Give Thanks

Â Arturo is back in to add to his collection surrounding the first piece of script that I did under the watchful eye of Jose when I arrived in January. In the light of the holiday, I am pleased to say that I have much to be thankful for this year. I made the trip down to LA with dreams and aspirations and nothing more. No place to live, no place to work, the only thing for certain was that I had been accepted to attend the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena.Â I knew not what to expect, but I knew my mind was ready. I had convinced myself that the stars had alligned for me and that the time was now. I had found much trouble in my past, and now had an opportunity dictate what type of footprint I would leave behind with my life, and made the decision it was to be greater than what it was. I had arrived in LA after being on the road all day and made my way directly to Fountain Valley to see the man that would prove to change my life forever. I am blessed and very fortunate to have found Jose. I remember walking in that night, he was working at the time I arrived, but had stopped what he was doing to hear me out. His client ended up having to wait a few more hours to get back to work for we talked for awhile. That night he made the decision to take me under his wing and since that night he has been nothing but a positive influence in my life in and outside of the studio. I have learned an incredible amount from Jose and continue to do so with everything that he shares with me. Its an almost unrealistic thought to think you can get anywhere in this world without the help of others. It takes a collective effort of equally invested individuals to achieve the greatest things that life has to offer. Take a minute to salute the ones that have helped you out along the away...

I guess what I am trying to say here is if you are one of the lucky ones to actually realize your dreams there is no reason that you should limit yourself from pursuing and acheiving them. Jose told me once that ,"time whats for no man, don't be the one that lets it pass you by." There is no better time than now, to begin the fight for what you believe. Whether it be an engineer or doctor that you aspire to be, or a father, or maybe its an artist. The only one to limit yourself from acheiving this is you. Once you have built the courage to dedicate your mind, body and soul completely, believe me, the rest will be easy. To my young dreamers out there, I salute you! May your journey be a smooth one...

There is great meaning in life for those who are willing to journey. -Jim England

Unchained

The brother Myles is back in to finetune the collection. Being the first one in his family to dive in and pursue a career in the medical field, we focused on the moments that led up to his chosen path. Hardly ever, are others willing to share your dream, your passion, or even attempt to believe in it as you do. Especially in its earliest stages, before the seed begans to grow and bloom. For Myles, like many others, the hardest part for him was to break free from the life that was planned for him and start his own journey, to pursue the life that was meant from him. The great ones usually have to go against the grain at some point, Myles is no different.

With this collection there are many subtle reference points. The figure lower right acting as the oracle that leads the heart, followed by the motherly figure to the left providing the love and support that was shown by his moms along the way. Making our way up to the untamed passion that can only stay quite for so long.

A big thanks to Myles for unduring some long hours to this project all the way through. This short clip from apple goes out to all the crazy ones out there thatÂ think different...

Holy Grail

It's been a smooth journey with my brother Michael. With last night's session we were able to seal up his chest we had started some time ago. Unlike other mediums, tattooing is purely a collaborative process between both the artist and client. If one is more invested then the other the results are never met to their fullest potential. It's not just the client or the artist, but both to be equally invested in the process, from start to finish. Since day one Michael has been soldier. No whining, easy to work with, and sits like a rock every time. Take a look at the finished work focusing on the religious key figures; St. Paul and the Virgin Mary.

One of the biggest questions the artist's asks himself is when is the work finished? With each session you dig deeper and deeper, and it gets harder to say when...

"Art is never finished, only abandoned." -Leonardo Da Vinci

A big thanks to Michael for soldiering through those long sessions with me. A great start with his collection.

Dear Mama

Â Real men love their moms. Joey is in to pay tribute, not to someone that has passed away, but to his living and healthy mother. Why? If your asking yourself that, then you need to go find your moms and go give her a hug and a kiss immediately. Great way to end the New York campaign. I want to send a huge thank you to everyone that made this trip so memorable. Your love and support most definitely does not go unnoticed. Thank you all.Â Last one from New York...

Recap to follow

And since were on the topic of mommas, heres some classic Tupac for you from the archives.

Quality Defined

I recently had the privilege of taking a trip out to visit our boy Jeff Bloodhound at his studio. For those of you who are wondering what type of machines use, this is it. First he showed me the equiptment he is running which is no joke, I think if I were to sell one of these machines I could probably pay for my entire tuition. He than ran me through the whole process from start to finish.Â Nothing Jeff uses to build his machines are premade or shipped from over seas.

Every single piece from the contact screws...

Â to the armatuer bars...

Â to the frames themselves,Â are all hand crafted and cut right here in the lab. That hand quality and prestine craftsmanship that Jeff is so passionate about is what sets him apart from the rest.

What makes for the perfect machine? We had a long talk regarding some machines that he is building for me right now. Lately we have been trying to push the boundary with the past few machines he has built for me, making minor tweaks here and there, and I think we might now have come up with the ultimate formula. I swear Jeff is like the mad scientist when he's in here, he takes an idea and just runs with it, not stopping until he has mastered it. This man knows exactly what he is doing and in my opinion is by far one of the most talented machine builders of our time. Truly an honor to get a glimpse into what goes on behind the curtains with the art of machine building. For more information about contacting Jeff click here.

Vatican Painting Collection

First up is a look at the Vatican Painting Collection.Â The collection contains some masterpieces of the greatest artists of the history of Italian painting, from Giotto to Beato Angelico, from Melozzo da ForlÃ¬ to Perugino and to Raphael, from Leonardo to Tiziano, to Veronese, to Caravaggio. All the Italians are here under one roof...

Also in the permenant collection is one of Caravaggio's best, "The Entombment of Christ"

A rare look into the painting process of Leonardo Da Vinci.

Of all the old masters I witnessed at the Vatican, the work of Raphael is what stuck with me. His grace, clarity and natural quality that embody his work are executed at a level of ease that seems almost too natural to be a painting.

With such a complex composition of so many figures it's hard to stay fluid and keep the work from stiffening up. With Raphael nothing is repeated, everything about his paintings feel so lifelike and natural, theres a kind of complexity that is mastered here, that no one but Raphael can achieve. In essence, nobody paints like Raphael...

Probably the most extraordinary room in the paypal pallace, are the Raphael Rooms, which at one point in time was the room that the Pope would sign important decrees and documents. When Raphael was painting these rooms, not only was the Bascilica being redesigned but Michelangelo was down the hall painting the Sistine Chapel Ceiling. These rooms are considered to hold the greatest frescoe paintings of the high rennasance. Enjoy...

The last piece I'll showcase is the most famous fresco in the collection entitled, The School Of Athens. Here Raphael depicts the greatest minds of Ancient Greece. The central figures being Plato and his student, Aristotle were the ones that laid the foundation for western philosophy and science. Plato, interested in the spiritual, the every day world, is shown pointing upward to the devine and Aristotle more concerned with the physcial and what we can observe and make sense of is shown with his hand extended level to earth. Two different ways of thinking about the world, both as influential as the next.

Amazing...

And of course paying respects to Michelangelo he includes him in this work below.

Michelangelos creation

I've officially died and gone to heaven. I cannot recall another time in my life that my eyes have layed upon such beauty and perfection. They say there are some things in life you truly have to experience to understand, and standing under the SistineÂ chapel is especially one that is like none other.

Now photography in the chapel is strictly prohibited, but since you all have been so loyal...

"Without having seen the Sistine Chapel one can form no appreciable idea of what one man is capable of achieving."

Face Off

Loyal client under the Lowrider roof is Brandon. With a growing collection from both Jose and I, Brandon has been enduring some long hours in the studio lately. Last night we managed to sealed up his chestplate we had started a little while back. Take a look at some views from our last session...

Brandon will be in the chair with Jose next to seal up the rest of his front panel, bringing both the upper and lower sections together. Stay tuned...

Victoria’s Angel

The brother Cj made the trip out from Virginia to begin work to his lower right sleeve. A fun way to put a twist on the classic angel theme. Like me, Cj has his queen back home, but it doesn't hurt have having a girl like this one watching over your shoulder when times get rough. Strong first pass with the brother who sat like a rock.

Vandal Squad

Here are some flicks from a recent trip to the "Art In The Streets" exhibit at the MOCA in downtown LA. Jeffrey Deitch did an amazing job at bringing the worlds most dominating graffiti artists from all corners of the globe to showcase their talent, and most of them did so right there on the spot, straight bombing the walls in the museum. Being a graffiti artist myself this exhibit was very inspiring. The bridge between so-called fine art and "street art" is slowing disappearing into thin air. Now we are seeing living proof with this exhibit. Whether it be Tattooing, Graffiti Art, etc. I wont let supreme talent be overlooked by a certain label that is put upon us. We WILL overcome our being enslaved for so long, break the chains, storm the world with OUR style, and earn our respected level in history with the rest of the greats!! Keep moving fam were well on our way.... in the meantime enjoy some inspiration..

Dynamic Sketching

I have been sharing views a few of the places I have been visiting to draw lately, so its only right to show a few sketches from the days out on location. The technique used below is all based on basic principles. Perspective, relationships, boxes, cylinders and line quality, to name a few. Keep in mind this isn't a finished drawing technique, but a dynamic way of sketching, focused on capturing what you see accurately and with some fines. I am at peace when I am out and about with a sketchbook and a pocket full of pens. Here's a few pages from the sketchbook I've been keeping with me when I go out. Enjoy a few scribbles from last weeks efforts...

Never Surrender

Been away from the computer for awhile, taking a break to relax the mind a little. Will share some photos from the past few weeks soon, but for now heres a look back at some work from the a few weeks back. The good brother John is back in the studio from Chicago. Building on what we had started on his last visit, we made some good progress with this meeting. Pulling inspiration from the trials and tribulations of Hercules, John can easily relate to those unthinkable feats embarked on during his time spent in Afghanistan. One of the first deployed after 9/11, his stories that he shared were nothing short of amazing that he is still here with us. The funny thing about John is, you would think after all of the shit he had been through over there he would hold bitter feelings of anger or resentment. Actually he is the opposite. Probably the most approachable guy in the room he is full of life and always has a smile on his face when he's here with us. A true soldier, he did what he had for us and was able to maintain himself in the process. A real inspiration for all of us...

Back In The Days… NOMAD

Its so important to surround yourself with like minded positive people as you pursue your craft. As I look back on the ones with the greatest influence on me as a younger artist and now today, I can see how much they truly inspired and impacted me. I Remember beign a little knucklehead at 14 and finding Grafitti. I picked up a can of spray paint and had no idea what I was doing. It wasn't until my good friend, R.I.P Joe Hyland, began showing me the ropes and educating me on the medium, that I began to love and pursue the artform in a different way. There's is only so much you can learn and do on your own, the truth is when you learn and grow alongside your piers that are just as hungry and passionate as you are, is when the magic happens...

Heres a little walk down memory lane with some of my old graffiti work from back in 2003- 2005. The piece below was done in honor of my biggest influence in the art, Kidicarus... Rip brother

Slip Away

Longtime client Gary is back in from Texas to start sealing up the chest. Playing with the idea of time and how easily it can slip away from us if we don't don't take full advantage of every moment. Another smooth session with Gary, more to come.

Last Of A Dying Breed

In a day where everything is beginning to be mass produced, shipped over from china fresh off the conveyer belt, and numbers sold seem more important than the integrity and quality of the actual product itself, it's good to know that real craftsman still exist. Watching my good brother Jeff work from raw material to actual form and functionality was a breath of fresh air. Jeff is a rare breed. Honored to have the opportunity to take part in his process from start to finish...

20 plus pieces are handmade here in Jeff's studio...

The attention to detail I observed was incredible. No detail went unnoticed.

Enjoy a short vid put together via my iPhone. A day's work in 15 seconds...

Inner Peace

Slow down.... trade in the freeway for the unchartedÂ mountain trail.Â Loose the city life and find the peace that lies within trueÂ nature.Â Â A few months back,Â before the term started back up at Art Center, I took it upon myself to break free from the daily grind and get lost in the wilderness. You must always take time toÂ regroup the mind and soak up inspiration from the greatest designer of all.

-Robert Frost

Wandering through forests filled with RedwoodsÂ over 2000 years old, enjoying crystal clear water to crystal filled caves,Â beauty is at every corner.

Some friends I came across on my journey.Â

They say to truly experience peace one must have enduredÂ the struggles that are found in the trenches. If you are ruthless with your work and know the trenches I speak of, you need this in your life.Â A free mind with no anxiety or stress, is the mind at its purest. Never before I have been ably to think so clearly, taking this opportunity to reflect on the year and prepare for whats to come.Â

Duomo

We landed in Milan and after working for two weeks straight in London, its timeÂ for a much needed break with the brothers. After getting settled in we made our way towards the center of the city, the DUOMO. One thing that I find most interesting about the church is the fact that it took nearly 6 centuries to complete. Me and Jose where thinking how it would be to dedicate your life completely to a project, knowing that you would not live to see it completed. Talk about believing in something that is bigger than yourself. Aside from that, the time that passed also allowed 6 generations of styles influence the structure. Some say the styles conflict, but what I witnessed was 6 generations in perfect harmony with one another that came together in some way to complete something spectacular.Â From the unbelievable amount of sculptures that coat the exterior to the design that's so complex, it seems as though one might study it a week without exhausting its interest. Enjoy some views as we reload with some inspiration...

The bronze doors that greet you are nothing short of amazing both in size and detail. Note the size with Jose and I standing in front...

The brother Miguel and I made the trek to the top just in time to catch some views from the top before the sun went down.

SPOTLIGHT

The new issue of Urban Ink just dropped with Â in-depth interviews on myself as well as Jose Lopez, Jun Cha and Miguel Ochoa. Couldn't be any more proud and honored to share a spread alongside my brothers, as we do here. The article focuses on the strength of our team and the continued growth of us all as artists. Interesting stories from all that shed light on humble beginnings and brighter futures. A huge thank you to Urban Ink and our brother Michael Nguyen for the honor. Be sure to pick up your copy today and read up on the articles yourself.

Supreme Virtuoso

How can I began to express the genius I witnessed in Florence. Let me start by giving you all a brief background on the history of this masterpiece even before Michelangelo came into the picture.Â Many had attempted to sculpt this seemingly perfectÂ block of marble before him and had given up due to the near perfect technique needed to execute this flawless marble. It was not until 25 years later, that Michelangelo would pick up where these failed attempts left off, in an attempt to finish what no other man was able. For three years Michelangelo worked in secrecy, often sleeping fully clothed so he could continue his work upon waking. Da Vinci is quoted describing him as such,Â "He looks like a baker. The marble dust ï¬ours all over him and his back is covered with a snowstorm of chips." Supreme dedication and personal torment would endure as such, up until the unveiling of the time's greatest masterpiece.

It is said that, "Anyone who has seen Michelangeloâs David has no need to see anything else by another sculptor, living or dead"

National Treasures

After a week of straight tattooing I managed to break out of the studio with the brotherÂ JunÂ to explore the city some. First stop was the National Gallery to admire some of the worlds most treasured masterpieces. When it comes to painting collections like this, the masters still live...

From Caravaggio to Rembrandt, Michelangelo to Rafael, me and Jun spent the day drooling over countless masterpieces

The virgin of the Rocks by Leonardo... Timeless

What we found most interesting though was the pieces by Michelangelo and Leonardo that showed their process. The unfinished painting by Michelangelo below was one I didn't even know existed.

And Lastly, this amazing drawing by Da Vinci. Showcased in a private room this piece reveals his finished perfection but more importantly his raw process. The natural aesthetic to his marks translate beauty that is simply not matched. Da Vinci was it....

Switch Gears

The brothers and I are back on US soil and back to work. After a great trip to Europe its time to dive back into my studies with school as well as taking all the inspiration I soaked up from over seas and re-injecting it back into my work. The studio is like our lab. Constantly we are trying to new things, working nonstop, anxiously waiting to showcase and share that progress with the world. In fact, one of the main purposes that we travel is this, to spread what we are excited about here at Lowrider with you all. Under this roof there are no egos, no negativity, just a band of brothers collectively driving this craft in hopes to push it to another plateau. I guess what I am trying to say is it feels good to be home...

Back to Back

When a client dedicates his back to his collection you know he's fully committed at that point. In my opinion, and I am sure many will agree, that working on one's back is the biggest honor an artist can have. With the body's biggest canvas, along comes the most work. Ready, willing and able, these fellas are in it for the long term. Heres a few of the many larger scale projects currently in rotation. An early healed look with the brother Faze as we go in for yet another strong session... Still much work to be done with this one.

Niv has been a straight soldier throughout the whole process of working on his apocolypto inspired back piece. When you come across the rare client who is as dedicated to the process as we are, your become similar to a band of brothers going into battle time and again. We are dedicated to the finish. Quality in every step. Long days and longer nights. Feels good to see this one come as far as it has. Still needs another session to complete. Heres a look from last night's session.

A huge thanks to all the clients that have been coming in day in and day out, sticking it out with me throughout those long sessions.

The MET

Still going strong here in New York. For now enjoy some views from a visit earlier in the week to the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Its undeniable that the Met holds one of our countries most prized collections, last week I was reminded whyâ¦.

The halls are filled with endless inspiration.

Canova's presence was definitely felt in the hall of sculptures. First up is the Perseus with the Head of Medusa

And one of my personal favorites, Count Ugolino and His Sons.

Easily the favorite from our outing. Touring from the Netherland's Vermeer's, "Girl With the Pearl Earing" left us speechless.

When In Rome

Fall asleep in LA, wake up in Ancient ROME... We landed in the eternal city and immediately hit the streets. The rich beauty and history found here gives this city a certain type of energy that goes unmatched. I cant help but describe Rome as the mecca of art. Countless influential masterpieces can be found here in all fields from sculpture to architecture, painting and everything in between. The brothers and I covered some serious ground over the day and into the night, leaving us with an overwhelming feeling of inspiration. Take a look at views from day 1 beginning around the corner from our apartment at the Colosseum.

From the infamous bridge filled with Bernini's angels...

To the Vatican...

While walking through St. Peter's Bascilica our new friends, who happen to be the Vatican Guards, gave us the oppertunity to experience the Church after closing. I think when we visited last year we shared our visit with over 5,000 tourists. Today, we had all of this to ourselves...

And there she was...

The city is comes alive at night. The warm glow of the marble is truly a beautiful sight to see.

Â The only way to end the evening. A big thanks to Paolo, the man behind the Rome Convention, for a memorable dinner with the family.

Milano Convention

Milano Convention x Lowrider Tattoo

Â Wrapping up work here at the Milano Convention. It's not every day where I am able to receive advice from great artists like Robert Hernandez and get to watch the masters of the Horitoshi family work under the same roof. Any amazing weekend to say the least. Aside from slaving away at the booth I managed to break free a minute and see what the world looked like away from my station. The greatest part was having the opportunity to meet so many great people from all over the world, both collectors and artists.Â So much love here in Italy, enjoy a few views from the show. Jose leads us into battle...

The brother Miguel showing strong all weekend.

Our brother Macko from Italy had the honor to seal up Og David's body suit, which later took 1st place for best overall body suit.

Horitishi family keeping tradition alive, a privilege to witness their process in person.

Looking forward to returning to Rome come May. Thanks once again for all the continued love and support.

Map Out

Lately I've been getting lost in the beautiful world that is painting. When prepping for a larger piece, one can never forget to neglect the planning, studying and problem solving that goes into the development stages. Before moving forward to the finish, theÂ big problems first need to be solved. As with anything, the importance lies in the bricks. Here's a look at a head study for a new painting in the works.

A short clip pulled from Instagram, take a walk through some of the process...

CARNIVAL

A quick Â look back from Italy, taking a break to explore Venezia.

Little did we know when we arrived it just so happened to be the first day of Carnival.

Aside from the beauty that Venice brings, one thing that stuck out from our visit was the amount of effort put into the masks worn for theÂ "La Maschera piÃ¹ bella."Â If a jury of international costume and fashion designers make the trip out to host the contest for best mask, it must be worth it..

Jose joining in on the fun..

Just to give you an idea of how many are still interested in keeping the spirit of Carnival alive

Lord Of The Sea

Back To Back

Back to back sessions with the brother Joel who made the trip all the way from Australia. Long days turned into longer nights and being that we only had a few days we had to make the most out of the time we had. The first day was spent on the Lady Justice inspired piece dealing with the idea of life and the pursuit of success and happiness. Its easy to let trends or money get in the way of the way we perceive the world around us to be. Sometimes we might get so lost in this that we find ourselves trying to lead the lives of others. For Joel its aboutÂ blinding yourself to the outer world in order to truly find what feels right to your own sensibilities. And once find it don't look back...

A closer look with the classic Og Abel money rose used to seal off the lower section

As we move to the inner section of the arm we are met with the idea of "moment mori." Which is a latin phrase that translates to "remember you must die". Death is inevitable, but how we use our time while we are here is up to us. Joel is a world traveler and wakes up every morning eager to began his next adventure. This is a daily reminder to continue to do so.

A huge thanks to Joel for making the trip out and sticking it out with me through those long sessions.

Temptations

Jarome is back in to continue. With prior themes surrounding deception and now building towards temptation and the symbolism behind the forbidden fruit. Constant reminder to stay focused and stay the course.

Student

The past week has been a refreshing reminder that the student is the best position one can obtain. Since I walked through the doors over here at Lowrider I have been consumed in absorbing all the knowledge that Jose and the rest of the homies have been willing to share with me. This studio houses nothing but family, and it just so happens that they are some of the most talented artists I have had the honor of getting to know. With the adjustment and the vigorous workload ahead the homies have been preparing me for whats to come... In the meantime let me give you a sneak view of what Jose has been up to in the lab...

I hope Jose doesn't mind me sharing this with you all, for it is still in its early stages of completion, but I couldn't help myself.

Timeless...

Catching my breath before I dive back into the studio. One last thing, take a trip down memory lane with Jose on the Lowrider Tattoo Studios Blog. Thanks for the honor brother.

The Good Fight

I recently had the honor of working on one of my instructors from Art Center. Beginning his career working for Disney, actually helping build Disneyland, he has enjoyed an amazing career, now being able to give back by teaching as well as creating children's books, which you can view here. I have come to understand that the life of an artist is not an easy one. Most are spent struggling, some lead to torment, almost none lead to riches... so why then? At some point passion overides all. You battle back at what comes at you for following your lifes greatest ambitions. In return you get the fulfillment of one that has fought to follow the dream, not just as an artist but whatever your craft may be. Not conforming to society's idea of the norm, and having the courage to be an individual, is what I respect. Ron Robledo has mine. For his piece we pulled inspiration from the classic underdog film, Rocky. A great session with Ron, take a look..

âLife's not about how hard of a hit you can give... it's about how many you can take, and still keep moving forward.â Â Â -Rocky Balboa

Sacrifice

The brother Matt is back down from the bay to continue work with his backpiece. The initial sessions for larger scale projects such as this one, are mainly dedicated to laying down the groundwork and really trying to see the direction we want to take with each collection. With the foundation set, we began building...still much work to be done, heres a look in process.

Matt's back is based around the idea of sacrifice.

Still to early to go into detail, but keep in mind...

"A man who won't die for something is not fit to live." -Martin Luther King Jr.

A big thanks to Matt for making the trip. Be sure to keep an eye out for future sessions to come.

Anatomy Of Type

Going back to my younger years, I remember bombing the city streets using graffiti as a tool to communicate my art. That deep rooted passion for lettering would cultivate there and later grow into the form of a tattoo, as most of my first tattoos were of course lettering. Its elegance and timeless qualities have always inspired me, but not until recently did I really get to explore the beautiful world of typography in the historical sense. Diving into the birth of hand drawn symbolism, to the old styles of the early empires, and thenÂ coming full circle to today.Â To push and explore any area of interest,Â its important to understand the anatomy of where it comes from. Thinking about balance, weight, spacing, and overall harmony within the letters in just as important asÂ the word that is being communicated. Studying alongsideÂ graphic designers at my school that are religious about this stuff has made me look at type in a whole new context. TakeÂ a look into the process...

Learning through endless practice...

"Know the rules well, so that you can break them effectively" -Daili Lama

Its interesting to see how tattoo artists have pushed the boundaries with lettering such as script and old style fonts. Watching guys likeÂ Miguel Ochoa and Johhny Opina push the envelope into creating these trulyÂ unique styles that my instructors trip out on isÂ nothing short of inspiring. To thinkÂ that tattooing is impacting and contributing to something 1000's of years old is amazing.

Destroy…Rebuild

Only a few hours rest after I returned from London, did I find myself back in full swing with the Fall term here at Art Center. Halfway through the program things are starting to make sense. The theme is simple...

Destroy ... & Rebuild

A brief look into a couple of studies done over the past few days. The key to growing in any craft is to come to an understanding that every brick layed will uiltimately lead you towards the finish. All time spent on any lesson learned is used later. So it only makes sense that in whatever you do with your time you are always fully invested. Of course you would, right? No matter how basic, or simple, or seemingly unimportant, you may not see it now but have faith that it will most definitely be called upon sometime down the line. Basic perspective may seem boring, but without that knowledge, recreating an ancient city in Greece would be that much more difficult... if it wasn't so much already.

Once again I preach that the foundation is the most important ingredient.

This term im diving back into my studies with oil as a medium. It feels great to be pushing paint around once again on a regular basis. Finding inspiration for a few fun head studies was closer to home than I thought. One was inspired by the big homie Estevan, pulling an image from his Classic book, LA WOMAN.

The other was my neighbor Gonzo. My instructor wanted me to find someone the was intense and very charismatic. He gets Gonzo. Luckily he is always willing to lend a hand when it comes to doing my homework. Don't let the tough shell fool you, underneath is a big tedybear.Â

Join the Ranks

Give Refuge

ClientÂ traveling from Northern England is back in to continue. While the brothers wereÂ on the grind in London it was nonstop in theÂ LA studio. Not an easy session to pull through, GarethÂ sat like a warrior.

After the foundation has settled in we can continue to layerÂ the greys,Â which allows us to achieve a richerÂ and wider value range.

Another fulfilling project,Â feels good to see this one come full circle. Keep an eye out for more to come with this collection, come London in January.

New Love

Â Were making our way towards the end of the Summer term over here at the Art Center. When you start seeing piles of students sleeping in the cafeteria you know were getting close. Aside from the rest of my studies here, Painting has been one that stands out and has really intrigued me. Although I have explored I little on my own in my younger years, nothing compares to all that I have been exposed to at school. It has proved to be meditation and torment at the same time. Honestly the most challenging medium I have attempted to pick up aside from trying to learn how to tattoo back when I first started out. Roosevelt said, " Nothing in this world is worth having or doing unless it means effort, pain and difficulty." The struggle is the most valued ingredient. Learn from your failures and keep pushing forward.

Take a look at some studies thus far pulled straight from the classroom

This is definitely something I will persue further... only the tip of the iceberg and I think i have found...

TATTOOLIFE

Hard work pays off. Honored to have our team spotlighted in the newest issue of Tattoo Life Magazine. A great article showcasingÂ a deeper look into what happens behind the scenes during our travels. Good friend and up and comingÂ writer,Â Michael Nguyen, met with us during our last trip to the east coast back in December and shared the experience first hand. Think deeper than the finished product and focus on what lies within. Again the process of development, how and why, are crucial, butÂ the team, even more so...

Every member contributes in their own right. One person's hard work can lead to great things, but when the collective effort of those willing to work and sacrifice themselves for oneÂ shared vision come together,Â the possibilities become endless.

"The strength of the team is each individual member, the strength of each member is the team."Â

Jose Lopez, Klown Saravia, Pablo Aponte and myself share the endless amount of work that goes into these trips,Â and the rich fulfillment that blesses us thereafter.

A huge thanks to Michael NguyenÂ and Miki Vialetto for the opportunity. Pick up your issue today...

Uniform

While thick in the study of the human form we take a turn in the study of what lyes on top. The beauty of drapery, or clothing, is how it enriches the appearance of the human form while simultaneously gives clarity to the movements and actions that occur within. As we break down the essentials and formulas to each fold, I have now been made aware that certain laws govern the seemingly randomness of folds that we encounter. Once the artist can break down the structure, the beauty of line and almost musical rhythm of the material can now play their part. The ones that mastered this art, is where I turn. Leonardo and Durer have been my teachers over the past couple of nights. Take a look at some recent studies taken straight from the classroom...

Sanctioned

Earlier tonight myself and the brothers from the studio, stopped by Cartoon's warehouse in support of his new line of Sanctioned products. Toons is a true pioneer and has been a huge inspiration to me since day one. Seeing the level of success he has come to know is beautiful. This evening proved to be a memorable one with the boys and one that has left us with the notion of what hard work can lead to.

Enjoy some views from the event...

On display for all to drewl over were his countless candy chariots...

Eyecandy...

And for all you loyal viewers out there, here's a behind the curtains look at the Cartoon's work station. Trip out on the new masterwork that's in progress

A huge thanks to Toons for having us. Be sure not to sleep on his new products and take a trip to his new site for a free sample.

Korean Krafstman

Observing life and translating your experiences through marks on paper is one of the most liberating feelings for any artist. When it comes to sketching, Kim Jung Gi is the one. This man may have as close to a photographic memory as it gets. The video below is one of about 3 that he completes daily to keep his hand fresh. Not for awhile has there been a draftsman like Kim, and more so one that can use his skills so freely. Get inspired...

Krystal

Our very own, Krystal Reyes was back in the chair to continue work with her leg. Krystal has been doing great here at the studio, soaking up all the knowledge she can from both Jose and the rest of the guys here. The great thing about Krystal is she understands what it takes to learn and grow and all of the hard work involved that is mandatory to do so. I am happy and proud to have her travel with us to Rome in the coming weeks. Hard work pays off... be sure to keep an eye out for Krystal as she has been doing some really nice work lately. We wanted to get this piece fresh for Rome, take a look at the last session used to tighten everything up and smooth out the greys.